A bit down.....any words of wisdom.

[RGDave]

I took my clubs out for a hit today and played OK.
However, I hardly used my irons at all, there was no run at all, the par 3s were set up for long clubs (rescue/fairways etc.) and the par 5s were just horribly long today. I'm keen to get settled with my irons, but it just wasn't that kind of day. Only played 2 9is and a 7i on the front 9 and 3 PWs and an 8i on the back 9. Other than that, it was all long second shots and GWs/SWs on the short par 4 holes.

I wonder if I should go out with only irons at some point before the big game on Sunday.

Anyone else play a course with only tiddlers and monsters?

The 550 beast today played massively long. I normally get within 100-150 for the 3rd shot, today it was another damn rescue club......must have made up all of 370 off the tee with 3w, 3r......how short?

PS...Bridgestone B330.....lovely ball, but how much side-spin......

 

[rgs]

Blame the lousy weather--played nine holes last night--no run on fairways courses playing long at the moment due to the excessive rain over the past week.

Cheer up a few weeks of sunshine and the ball will run again.

 

[haplesshacker]

Don't worry Dave. You'll be telling us in a week or two how your 6 iron ran to 180 and you haven't used your woods for days!!

 

[RGDave]

Blame the lousy weather--played nine holes last night--no run on fairways courses playing long at the moment due to the excessive rain over the past week.

Cheer up a few weeks of sunshine and the ball will run again.

I really hope so.....it was worse than winter golf today.

 

[GB72]

Have had a few similar rounds recently. The par 3s wereeither 3 wood, hybrid or wedge, par 4s were driver then wedge or driver and fairway wood whilst the par 5s have always been driver, wood, wedge. Have gone whole rounds hardly hitting a long or mid iron

 

[Imurg]

I went out today. Not a member anymore so I had to pay for it! And I don't know why but I just couldn't get "up" for the game today. I hit the ball well and scored ok but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe the course seemed a bit dull after playing Bearwood on Monday - I don't know.
To be fair the course is a bit dull - that could be the answer but there was an odd feeling all the way round.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Dave,

You could play shorter tee shots to get to use the longer irons but I always get the feeling I'm not playing properly unless I'm using the correct club for the shot (if you get my meaning) and as a result can never get the thought patterns right and everything always seem half hearted.

I think you'll have to put it down to the conditions. My advice would be worse case scenario get to the range and feel bat on ball with all of them. However my inclination would be to trust your swing (you've put the work in) and trust your instincts regarding yardage and just play your normal game.

 

[Herbie]

Cheer up Dave, I find so often when I am playing well that I rarely use anything much besides Driver, 9 iron,PW,SW and putter, I may occasionally have to whip out a 7 or 8, or the odd 3w or hybrid.

I prefer that, but I dont neglect long irons, if I dont use them in a round I will practice with them, or maybe down one hole in the round use them and nothing else (depends on the round) but I would rather be hitting a driver and a 9 or less every hole most of the time, that would suit me fine

 

[triguy]

Dave I often play a round in practice by, for example, using a four iron off the tee at a 380 par 4 and then anonther four iron to the green or using a 3, 4, 5 combination for the par 5's or even delibrately going short, to a specific (not as specific as I would like) area on par 3's and trying to get up and down. I find that when I was playing a lot of golf a few years ago this improved my game no end as it made me think about how I should play the hole instead of just bashing away with the driver / 3 wood followed by the usual wedge or whatever. This also helped when the wind blew as you tended to know what club to hit from the strange positions you ended up in - 100 yds shorter / longer. This is worth trying as it really makes you think about how to use the clubs - low running punched 7 iron off the back foot instead of wedge is one way of varying from the norm. As the rest of the guys have mentioned once that sun starts shining I am sure the world will look much better glof wise

 

[CrapHacker]

I wouldn't necessarily play a round with just my irons, but I'd make sure that over the next few rounds I played every hole in different ways. EG Wood, pitch one time, mid iron, mid iron another.

It keeps your interest up, it improves your iron play throughout the set, and lets you know that you can play the course well, even if you have a bad day off the tees.

 

[theeaglehunter]

I get what you are saying but if that is how the course will be for you on Sunday then there is little point worrying about the longer irons. I would no doubt feel the same and want to make sure I'm confident with the full range of irons, but if you won't be needing them don't worry at the moment.

As long as when you did hit them they went ok- happy days.

A good excuse for being a bit down would be when you had a lot of iron approach shots in a round yesterday, yet was striking the ball terribly, when last time out about 2 weeks ago I was striking it beautifully on the practice ground. My game has actually completely disappeared at the moment, based on yesterdays performance so I too am a bit down.

 

[freddielong]

Don't be such a Girl - you choose what clubs you hit. If it was just a friendly game hit irons of the tees choke down on a six iron instead of playing an eight into a green its not rocket science, lay up to different distances its easy.

This is what I mean when I say no one plays golf anymore

 

[nomadpaul]

If it was just a friendly knock about , could you not play off a different set of tee's to break it up ?

That would change the length of each hole , giving different perspectives/distances on the holes you played today ?

 

[JustOne]

Only played 2 9is and a 7i on the front 9 and 3 PWs and an 8i on the back 9. Other than that, it was all long second shots and GWs/SWs on the short par 4 holes.

Sounds like a good mix to me. If you want to hit more 4/5/6 irons then simply duff your drives

 

[golfnut18]

ive just come back from my round this morning. There was absolutely no run whatsoever, but luckily my new driver, rescue and long irons where on form and i was hitting the majority of greens in regulation - happy days.
Putting however was shocking!! Every green was different ( in speed due to surface water). Im now in a little bit of dispare as my putting confidence has been knocked right back . bloody weather.
BTW op why dont you place a few balls out on the fairways at different yardages ( when its quiet of course) and then practise with each iron?

 

[RGDave]

Thanks everyone.

Going out for a quick 18 (maybe 14) in about 30 minutes.

I've planned to only take a hybrid/rescue with my irons and no GW. If I ban myself from playing the rescue off the fairway, I'll hit plenty of irons then!!!

As for the idea of practising half shots and choked down stuff, I think that's probably for a better player and someone not looking to get a distance read too soon!!

I need to hit full shots and have taken on the advice to either play shorter clubs off the tee (no dr/3w/5w) and maybe put a few down if it's quiet.

I think I was too interested in my score yesterday.....and it probably wasn't a scoring day even with a full set.

 

[RGDave]

Went out, caught up with an old mate and played the lot.

I did cheat a little though, I took out the 3w/5w/9w/GW but put in my Ping G5 Driver just to see how it is with a better swing/path.

Played very well indeed.
6 over after 9.
8 over after 11 (not feeling good then! )
Holed an 11 yard putt for birdie at the par 5 12th.
Parred the rest! Played a gross 77, 1 UNDER par for the last 7 holes.

I used my irons a lot more (I did in fact not use the rescue off the fairway). Very good.

Interestingly, they all started straight and went a bit left at the end......

Maybe I'm standing open or pulling a tiny bit....must be ready for this next time out.

Highlight was this drive at the 18th.

It's 199 to the road from the tee. I hit my 3h about 196, popped my iron pin high, a foot off the green, two putted for the BEST round since starting playing back in 2007.

77

 

[golfnut18]

good man!!!! sounds like you had a great time, keep it up and goodluck

 

[TonyN]

Wow Dave, I know how tough that last hole can be, so having to face it with the prospect of shoooting your best score and doing so well (with new irons) is great stuff.